Inspire Yourself

Inspire Yourself
Ah, the Honda Inspire. It brings back memories of Acura Vigors and really awkward five-cylinder engines. After all, the Inspire was really nothing more than an Accord, which was really just a sister car to the Vigor at the time. The Inspire has since traced itself back to its Accord roots, sans all that Vigor silliness. Its fifth-generation model launch took place late last year on the heels of the U.S.-spec Accord unveiling.

Honda will offer two variants: the 35iL and 35TL...no, not that TL. Both come powered by the same 3.5L i-VTEC V-6 we already know about. The SOHC J35A engine features individual cylinder deactivation and is good for slightly more oomph then the U.S. Accord's 268 hp and 248 lb-ft torque. The Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system allows anywhere from all six cylinders to fire or as little as four, or three, depending upon driving conditions. Do the math-this translates into either a 2.3L inline-four or a 1.3L three-banger.

The differences between the Inspire and our Accord do not lie up front. The HID headlamps and unique grille remain but the rear is slightly different with an altered tail lamp configuration and that's about it.

But back to the VCM, which is what makes the J35A so interesting in the first place. Six cylinders remain active during startup and while accelerating. Then a couple of cylinders drop off during high speeds or when accelerating moderately. Finally, three cylinders are cut off completely while cruising. The results are pretty darn good fuel economy without any power losses when it counts-at wide-open throttle. Since the system automatically closes the unused cylinders' valves, intake and exhaust pumping losses are eliminated too, giving the mpg boost. Cylinders are deactivated via VTEC, which closes the intake and exhaust valves while the ECU cuts fuel. The rear cylinder bank shuts down during three-cylinder mode. Only the front bank's left and center cylinders and the rear bank's right and center cylinders operate during four-cylinder mode. The spark plugs don't stop firing though, which helps minimize plug temperature losses and fouling caused by incomplete combustion during cylinder re-activation. The system adjusts ignition timing, drive-by-wire throttle position and torque converter lock-up to ease transitions between six-, four- and three-cylinder modes. Clever.

F1 Appointment
There's a new guy over at Honda Racing's F1 team. Ross Brown, of team Ferrari notoriety, took the helm at Honda late last November where he'll serve as team principal. Ross' appointment follows a period of strengthening across the entire team including aerodynamicists, designers, engineers and those on the race team. The job isn't a light one. Ross will assume responsibilities for the design, manufacturing, engineering and racing departments.

Not familiar with Ross? The 30-year motorsport's veteran helped secure six Constructors' Championship titles in a row during his 10-year Ferrari stint as technical director. Prior to employment with the Italian supercar team Ross filled the same shoes but for Benetton's F1 team, securing back-to-back World Drivers' Championships in 1994 and 1995 and he helped take the Constructors' Championship.